Eat, shop, and be thankful!

The well known Black Friday celebration has been going on longer than one might guess!  

The day after Thanksgiving has been designated for all night shopping and big discounts since the late 19th century. 

“I’ve been going Black Friday shopping for years! It’s one of my favorite days of the year because it officially starts the Christmas season and I get to be close with my friends and family,” Hannah Worley said. 

During the late 19th century, it was not yet called “Black Friday.” The name Black Friday was initially used for the gold stock market crash in 1869.

The tradition finds its earliest origins In the middle of the 1950s when the majority of adults would call in sick the day after Thanksgiving in order to have a longer break, which boosted the business in the retail department since parents could get a head start on their Christmas shopping.

This brought attention to the day, and more and more businesses started making Black Friday a paid holiday. 

The term “Black Friday” first appeared in print in 1966, in an article warning citizens about the huge traffic jams that would take place due to all the anxious shoppers. 

After the holiday was published in print, it became more and more popular throughout the nation. 

“Black Friday is the kick-off to Christmas! It’s the best way to spend time with those you love shopping and having a blast,” Nell Lewis said.

Since 2008, the sales have grown a substantial amount since the National Retail Federation started tracking them in the early 1990s.